Naples Zoo Celebrates the Tallest Animals on the Planet on the Longest Day of the Year

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This June 21, Naples Zoo along with zoos, schools, governments, and conservation organizations are hosting the very first World Giraffe Day. With events in New Zealand, Europe, Africa, Australia, and America, this international effort is an initiative of the Giraffe Conservation Foundation to both celebrate these iconic animals as well as raise awareness for the challenges they face.

A young guest and giraffe share a moment together during the hand-feeding experience.

... one of the best recognized, but least researched large animals in Africa. Giraffe numbers have plummeted down over 40% since just the 1990s.

Naples, Florida (PRWEB)May 30, 2014

Naples Zoo at Caribbean Gardens is celebrating the tallest animal on the planet on the longest day of the year with wild fun and wild prizes. This June 21, Naples Zoo along with zoos, schools, governments, and conservation organizations are hosting the very first World Giraffe Day. With events in New Zealand, Europe, Africa, Australia, and America, this international effort is an initiative of the Giraffe Conservation Foundation to both celebrate these iconic animals as well as raise awareness for the challenges they face. Locally, Naples Zoo is hosting a fun giraffe photo contest on Facebook, a giraffe-focused scavenger hunt with special giraffe education stations, a GIRAFFLE for a zoo membership, giraffe patch painting, and featuring a triple matching gift for all monies raised to help giraffes in the wild.

Why Giraffes?
These beloved creatures are one of the best recognized, but least researched large animals in Africa. Giraffe numbers have plummeted down over 40% just since the 1990s. They are already extinct in seven African countries. We support the Giraffe Conservation Foundation in their work with governments, universities, and non-governmental organizations to support giraffe research and conservation across the continent.

WORLD GIRAFFE DAY EVENTS at NAPLES ZOO

Giraffe Facebook Photo Contest to Win Breakfast with the Giraffes
Naples Zoo is hosting a fun photo contest where entrants can post images of themselves feeding the giraffe at Naples Zoo or any great giraffe photo they have snapped. Three winners and a friend each with the most LIKES for their photo will enjoy a delightful breakfast in the giraffe area on Saturday morning, June 28 while they spend time with the giraffes’ keepers as their tall friends look on. To enter, visit the Zoo’s Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/napleszoo and click the Giraffe Photo Contest tab. The contest is now open so photographers and giraffe feeders can enter anytime. The sooner you enter, the more LIKES you could get! Contest ends at noon on June 22, 2014.

Giraffe-Focused Scavenger Hunt for Zoo Membership
Between 9 a.m. and 1 p.m. on World Giraffe Day, trained volunteers are hosting special giraffe education stations in the southern gardens. Guests will discover how giraffes interact with other animals plus discover fun trivia while seeing bio-facts and other illustrative materials. One lucky winner will win their choice of a Family or Grandparent Naples Zoo Membership. Or if they’re already one of the Zoo’s 23,000 members, they will get a bonus year free!

GIRAFFLE with Triple Matching Donation
Zoo guests can enter our very first GIRAFFLE for a chance to win a Family or Grandparent Membership – and help giraffes! For each dollar donated in the GIRAFFLE, guests receive a numbered ticket for a chance to win their choice of a Family or Grandparent Membership. Best of all, each dollar is tripled by the Naples Zoo Conservation Fund so for every $1 donated, a total of $3 will be donated to the Giraffe Conservation Foundation up to a total of $5,000 in matching funds.

Giraffe Patch Painting with Triple Matching Donation
From 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on World Giraffe Day, keepers are welcoming both adults and children to lend a hand. For a $2 donation to the Giraffe Conservation Foundation, guests can paint their hand and create the spots on painted giraffe silhouettes. And just like the GIRAFFLE, each dollar is tripled so for each $2 handprint, $6 will go toward giraffe conservation in Africa.

About Naples Zoo
Naples Zoo at Caribbean Gardens is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization cooperating in conservation programs both in and outside the wild for endangered species including a full day of fun presentations and wild cruise through islands of monkeys, lemurs, and apes. Ticket includes admission to both the nationally accredited zoo and historic accredited garden along with shows, exhibits, and the boat ride. ($19.95 adults age 13+/ $12.95 children 3 to 12, under 3 free. Children under the age of 16 must be accompanied by an adult at least 18 years of age). Zoo memberships and discount tickets are also available online at http://www.napleszoo.org. Naples Zoo welcomes guests daily from 9:00 to 5:00 with the last ticket sold at 4:00 and is located at 1590 Goodlette-Frank Road across from the Coastland Center mall in the heart of Naples. For more, click http://www.napleszoo.org, follow them at http://www.facebook.com/napleszoo or call (239) 262-5409.